Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Design Quirks or Sensibilities?

Love,Love this entire room!

In writing post for my blog I am discovering I have quite a few ."Design Quirks." Have you ever sat down and written your own quirks? You know the things You HAVE to have in your home to make it your very OWN. The way you have to always have a certain area look, or the world will fall off it's axis!

Actually what "Quirks" turn out to be is your personailty coming out in your home. Quirks are the elements or the design sensibilities that you have as a homeowner. I am going to share with you , a few of my "Quirks."

I have to have a clean kitchen counter! I have a rather large kitchen bar area and if it has anything on it I have to clean it off immediately. I love for it to look open and uncluttered. Keeping this in mind, I need a kitchen that has enough counter space to allow wide open spaces. Here are some pictures of kitchens that would more than meet this little Quirk requirement:

Give Me Wide Open Space

I love all the wide open spaces on these counter tops. Notice there is not just one island but TWO and look at its shape. This is a really interesting mix.

Another great and open bar area, really cute bar stools, love that check.

These counters have some items place on them but they are not overly clutered The accessories give this kitchen warmth and style.

Nothing needs to be said here except," Perfection!"

Again there are a few items placed on the bar but it has an open uncluttered look. This more than meets my Quirk requirement.

Talk about wide open spaces!!!

Let Their Be Light

There has to be light in my home. If it is a dreary day out, I have lights on. If it is a sunny day out, I have lights on! Good lighting is key to me. Unfortunately it is a costly little Quirk when we get our Electric bill. Joni at Cote de Texas has a wonderful post on sconces and how she always leaves her sconces on even in the daytime and also tries to talk her clients into doing so. She would not have to talk me into it because I am of the same school of thought on that issue.

Last but not least by any means is Joni's wonderfully designed living room with all of her lights on. My kind of girl!

I Can't Breathe! I Need Air!

I have to have open and airy rooms with lots of natural light spilling in to the rooms from open windows. I am not one that dresses my windows with heavy draperies, I like to think of the windows as a frame to the beautiful view outside. I will often have my windows open to let in lots of fresh air. I have been known to open them even on cooler days just to air out my home and let the air circulate. If it is too terribly cold or rainy outside I turn on my whole house fan for a short period of time to circulate the still air in my home, I told you I have Quirks. Have you noticed that a couple of these Quirks are costing my hubby some money?

Open windows, Aaaah! Notice the dark steel framed windows and french doors. Many home owners are changing their white window frames out for these dark steel beauties.

Can't you just smell the fresh air and feel the gentle breeze? Again I say Aaaaaah!

No window dressing here just beautiful windows and lots of light. I am loving this Greek Key floor tile (note to self, future blog post,Greek Key designs) Another fun and interesting idea is look at the mirror spacer between the two cupboards. (keep this in mind for future projects)

Lots and Lots of Windows, Love it!!! Notice the draperies pulled to the farthest edge of the window. If you are going to drape a window for softening the edges or for privacy, make sure you have room to pull it over to let in as much light as possible.

Gorgeous!

I Hear Music!I like a little background music playing in a room. If there is not music playing the house feels dead to me. Nothing jarring or loud,just a soft background of music, You know the kind you hear in the spa. This will require a nice sound system and a good resource for the kind of music I like.

My Strangest Quirk

When I clean my kitchen sink out I have to dry out the sink, make sure the faucet is polished and then......The faucet has to be lined up straight in the middle,not to the right or the left but in the middle. Okay this is just a little weird but what can I say? Trust me I realize this is probably the strangest of all of my Quirks but let me show you some examples of straight vs. to the side. I will let you be the judge. Which looks better to you?

To The Side! Oh No!!

Straight! I rest my case.

Straight! YES!!!

This pains me since this is one of my favorite kitchens, but what were they thinking? It is leaning to the left. They do get bonus points for the open window.

Leaning to the left, what a shame.

Two sinks, Two faucets nice and straight!

Have you ever thought about your own litte Quirks I hope I am not the only one out there with Quirks or maybe we should rename them, "Design Sensibilities". In making a list of your quirks you might find some requirements or elements you need to change in your home. Let me know what you come up with I would love for you to share , some of your Quirks Design Sensiblilities with me and the other Loyal Readers.

"Enjoy the Process," Of: Discovering some of your Design Sensibilities.

28 comments:

S-i-g-h....I do love the wide open counters, but alas, it doesn't seem meaant to be for me. The reality is that as aan avid cook (I teach some classes) there is certain equipment that is just absolutely necessary. and since whoever designed our house thought a cubby would suffice as pantry space, my counters are doomed. I do agree with the light issue, though my husband and yours would probably gang up on us. I encourage all my design clients to consider light when planning the furniture placement and window treatments of their rooms. Great post! And yes, we all have those Quirks-don't really know if I want to admit to mine.

Kathysue, the faucet thing is just too funny. I always dry out the inside of my sink too and yes the faucet has to be straight. I just thought I was nuts. lol Such a great post again. Hope you are having a super day. Hugs, Marty

Funny about the faucets...you actually have a quirk I don't have (unless company is coming)! I love bright and open. I don't like lights on during the daytime if it is sunny enough that the house is bright. I also love a large open kitchen. I don't mind a few "pretties" on the counter, but I won't let the mail, or any clutter gather there. Music...I love it, if I'm home alone and working on something...I like loud pop/rock.

These rooms are so beautiful but I have to say the ongoing "quirk" I see is that most of them are white and not practical at all....beautiful yes,fun to look at yes, useful no. My "quirk" is that a room has be functional.....no I'm not a slob but my husband tends to be on the messy side so you would go crazy here Kathysue drying out our sink and straightening our faucet! He would also grumble about the electric bill LOL! Pretty post....maybe I can just dream a bit about it!

Lulo, I am sure I would not go crazy in your home, I think your home looks very warm and inviting. Had to laugh about the grumbling you mentioned. My hubby came home with the flourescent dimmable bulbs for all my little lamps. We both agreed Not Happening Here, the light is too white, even on the ones that say warm light. I use the small refrigerator bulbs that are under 5 wtts. They give off a nice candle glow affect. thanks for posting a comment, fun to read,Kathysue

Hi Eddie and Jaithan, I know I love the greek key, notice I plan on doing a post on that design. As soon as I saw it I thought of you, I might have to borrow some of Picts Of all of your great Greek Key items, Thank you for stopping by,you guys are the best!!

Kathysue, I just love all of these beautiful, bright and fresh rooms. I'm totally with you on the background music (surprise, surprise) and I love to open all the windows when the weather allows. But I had no idea that you (and Marty apparently) shared my crazy little OCD sink/faucet obsession. Carol is going to have the cleanest sink on the planet this June lol. Hugs, Kat

well, I went and looked at my faucet... the sink was clean, as always, the faucet was shining and to the SIDE... lol My list would have to consist of NO CLUTTER EVER!!!! Simply have only what one needs, I don't want alot of kitchen stuff and have nothing on my counters but pretties.I take the toaster and the coffee maker out every morning and put it alway be for I leave the kitchen... Lots of light, but I prefer warm colors. I could never have a blue room, or anything overly bright. I want the best sheets for my bed, great pillows ect. I want the lights on if I am having company, but if it is just me, only the rooms I am in. I need a pretty spaces and would not be happy at all in a dirty, cluttered, ugly house. It don't have to cost the most, but it has to have style!

Vicki, I think we are kindred spirits in a lot of ways.I like what you said about it does not have to cost much,it just has to have style, I so agree. Glad this post was thought provoking, so did you straighten the faucet?he he

Kat, I am so glad you are joining Marty and I on the sink quirk, we will have to take turns straightening it at Carol's.

I wish you could have seen my office about five minutes ago. All the gals were gathered around one desk to look at these photos and see what Kathysue was advising today! We will all go home and check our faucets!! You are awesome!

Just found your blog thru 101! I have so many quirks, but one is definately counter tops junked up with every appliance one owns or uses!As far as the faucet turned to the side, this is only for the purpose of the photo...to get the best possible angle showing the detail of the fixture for a magazine shoot. So go ahead and keep loving those kitchens and visualize the owner fixes it as soon as the photography crew moves out! :)

Hi Kathysue! I have never given my faucet a single thought as to which way it is facing. I wonder if in your favorite pic they had to move the faucet to one side to open the window...very tall faucet! I must, however, have my dish towel folded exactly in half and hanging exactly in the middle of my stove handle! lol As for open windows...can't do it! My staff would pick at the screen. Which reminds me...have you ever noticed that there are never any screens in the windows in those pictures? They must not have mosquitoes like we do in the South! lol Fun post...Happy week!...Debbie

Kathysue, what beautiful photos you posted. They are all beautiful - even the ones with the faucet turned sideways! I'm afraid my quirks are the opposite of yours and also my quirks are not conducive to a pretty room. I cannot have bare space. I am uncomfortable if I am not surrounding by furniure and accessories. Believe me, I've tried it. It lasts about an hour before I start putting things back out! I know, it's not a quirk, it's a disease. laurie

Hi KathySue! Great post and so funny about the faucet. What if you have 2 sinks but only 1 faucet like mine? Will you still have the sink in the middle? You will have to keep moving it from left to right before using it or it just shoots on the sink divider. I don't know exactly what my quirks are except I have to have a closet for coats and shoes. I cannot have shoes sitting out on the floor. I love all the pictures you posted but I don't think I can have a white room b/c I want warm colors but I like looking at them at other houses....Christine

My kitchen needs some work and your pictures provide lots of interesting beautiful ideas. I don't think I will ever be rid of the clutter my that collects on my counters--even without kids at home. Funny about the faucet. I never knew you felt so strongly about this! Haha Love, Paula

Oh my gosh Kathsue! I don't know how I got here on your blog but I'm so happy to see that you have one. I loved all your comments you'd send me back in the day on RMS and you've dropped by my blog a few times as well. I've always wondered why you didn't start and blog and I'm so glad you FINALLY did. I'm going to "follow" you and I love what you've done so far.

Hey, Kathysue, oh that first kitchen is just so dreamy, I love everything about it. Would love for my kitchen to be a tad bigger, but I can't complain. I don't think I have too many quirks & the older I get the less I'm focused on things being just so. I'm go with the flow much more now than ever.

Oh, thanks for coming by to see my throw. I wouldn't let anyone examine it up close though, I promise I'm not a good seamstress. :)

Interesting post! I just did a post about the toilet seat being left up. Lol.

Count me as another who shares many of the same "quirks"...clutterfree counters (as much as possible), lots of light,and unadorned windows. If I didn't have a divided sink, the faucet would probably be in the middle too but if it were centered and I didn't move it every time I turned on the water, water would be everywhere. Therefore it faces to the right, over the garbage disposal side.

Here's a biggie for me: When I'm home by myself, no TV or music for me. Silence is golden.